Automatic control for automobiles.



.|.'.l. CURRY.

AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. aI. I9I4.

A 7/ Uff/VE YS NW ad.

1. J. CURRY.

AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3|. l9l4.

Patented Oef.. 12, 1915.

WITNESSES J. J. CURRY.

AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3l. l9l4.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

meyo,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mIIIMm 1.1. CURRY.

AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 31.1914.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET "f ,4 TTOR/VEYS JOSEPH J. oceanen NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR. AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratented oet. 12, A1915.

Application filed October 31, 1914. Serial N o. 869,589.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH J. CURR'Y, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and Stateof New York, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Control for Automobiles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic controlling devices for automobiles, and has for an object to provide an improved construction which will throw out the clutch and apply vthe brakes whenever the operator removes his hands from the steering wheel. y

Another object of the inventio-n is to provide an improved construction which may be operated 'at any time by the feet or may be operated at any'time by the hand so as to.-

throw out the clutch and apply the brake at -any time. L.

A further .object 'of the invention is -to provide an improved air brake system contro-lled either by the ordinary foot pedal, or by specially arrangedhand operated members connected with the steering wheel.

In the accompanying drawings r-Figure 1 is a diagram of a front of-an. automobile with an embodiment of the invention 'appliedl thereto; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown inFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view on Kan enlarged scale of the air brake cylinders; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal horizontal section through the cylinder shown in Fig. 3, the same being on a slightly enlarged scale to that shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detailed fragmentary sectional view through Fig. 4 approximately on line 5-5, the same being on a somewhatl enlarged scale; Fig. 6 is a side view of one ofthe 11 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary sectional view through a pair of cut-out valves associated withthe air supply tank shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 12 is a top plan view ofthe steering wheel and associated parts; Fig. 13 is asection through Fig. 12 approximately on line .16-16;S Fig. 14 is a detailed fragmentary sectional view through Fig.. 1 ap- 16 is a section through Fig. 13'on 1ine19-19. 4

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates an automobile ofl any desired construction which is provided with an engine 2 of'any desired structure which operates a fan 3 in the usual way. To the shaft on which fan 3 is mounted is secured an extra pulley 4 which carries belt 5. Belt 5 in addition to passing Vover pulley 4 passes over a pulley 6 whichl last men-l tioned pulley may be connected or disconnected by a suitable brake with a pump 7. Pump-7 supplies air to a reservoir 8 through pipe 9. Connected with reservoir 8 are automatically actuated relief valves 10 and 11 to which are connected pipes 12 and 13.

Connected with tank 8 in addition to the valves 10 and 11 is a relief valve 14 which is designed to blow off in the usual manner when a predetermined air pressure has been.

anism to the usual clutch for connecting the engine with the driving wheels and the braking mechanism of the automobile. The foot treadles 19 and 20 may be operated by the feet in the usual manner at any time, or

may be operated by the piston'rods 21 and 22 (Fig. 3) whenever air under pressure is let into the respective cylinders.

In order to automatically operate the clutch and brake, air is automatically let into the cylinders 17 and 18 through the action of certain parts. shown in detail in Figs. 12 to 15, inclusive. The automobile 1 is provided with a steering wheel 23 of any usual or preferred. structure which has a steering column or post 24. Connected with the steering column or post 24 is an encircling member 25 clamped in position in any desired manner, as' for instance by a screw 26. The encircling member 25 is provided and 30 and is interposedA between the s'urrounding member 25 and the respective arms 31 andy 32, whereb vthe rods 31 and 32 are raised whenever t e outer ends of arms 31 and 32 are released. When the automobile is moving along the rovad under power` freely, the hands of the operator hold the arms 31 and 32 in the position shown in Fig.

13 so that the outer ends will rest against the wheely 23. These arms are pivotally mounted at 34 and 35, respectively, to brackets 36 and 37 extending from the stop or encircling member 25. By this' construction-and arrangement whenever the hands of the operator are moved from both of the arms the same automatically move so that the rods 29 and 30 will move upwardly.

From Fig. 12 it will be noted that the arms 31 and 32 are provided with arc shaped 40 and 41, which bell crank levers are con` nected at one end with the rods 29 and 30,

and at the other end withwires or cables. 42 and 43, respectively. It will be noted that the bracket 38 is provided with apertures or slots 44 and 45 for allowing a limited free movementof the rods 29 and 30. The wires 42 and 43 are connected with levers 45l and 46 (Fig. 3) which levers are designed to operate the valve mechanism more clearly shown in Fig. 4 for turning on and off the air to the cylinders 17 and 18,

respectively. rlhe construction is such that when cable 42 is pulled the clutch will be disconnected so that the automobile will coast, and when the cable 43 is pulled the clutch is disconnected and the brakes are applied whereby the automobile will be stopped.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be observed that the cylinder 17 is provided with a pair of ports 4,7 and 48, and has arranged in the cylinder a suitable piston 49 normally held as shown in Fig. 4 by a spring 50. A piston rod 21 eX- tends through the head 51 which acts as a guide therefor. rllhis piston rod is formed with a hollow portion into which the power rod 52 loosely lits, power rod 52 being riigidly connected with piston 49, whereby when air is admitted into the cylinder 17 piston 49 will be moved toward the guide 53', and will move piston 49 so that the clutch connected therewith will be moved. out of mesh. By arranging the power rod 52 loosely tting in the piston rod 21, the same may be moved independently of rod 52 by the treadle 19 so as to manually disconnect the clutch. A rotating valve member 54 is arranged to control the air passing through the ports 47 and 48, the valve member 54 being formed with apertures 55 and 56 arranged preferably at right angles to each other so that port 48 will be open whenever port 47 is closed, or port 47 will be open 'while port 48 is closed. The valve member 54 is provided swith 'a shaft 57 extending through a bearing nut 58 (Fig. 7), which bearing nut is provided with a notched-'out portion 59, whereby there are presented stops 60 and 61. These stops are designed to engage a lug 62 arranged on the lever 63.

Lever 63 isy preferably provided with a polygonal opening in the center for fitting over a--small polygonal part of shaft 57, whereby whenever lever 63 is moved the shaft together with valve 54 `will be moved. A suitable nut is provided'for continually holding member 63 in place. The member or lever 63 is provided with extensions 65' and 66, extension-65 having a rod 67 pivotallyconnected therewith, which` rod extends through a guiding member '68, said guiding member being formed with a slot 69 for accommodating rod 67. A spring 70 surrounds rod 67 and bears at one end against guide member 68 and at the other the enlarged end which is' pivotally connected with extension -65 of lever 63. By providing a spring arranged in this manner lever 63 and associated parts will enga-ge valve 64 which normally remains in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and will move again to that position as soon as released after having beem moved therefrom. The extension 66 has rigidly connected ltherewith a cross bar 71 which also projects into the extension 72 formed on' the lever 73.( A suitable nut may be provided for holding this bar or bolt in place as shown in Fig. 4. The lever 73 is preferably made in two parts and secured together by suitable bolts 74 (Fig. 9) so that the same may be easily applied and removed whenever desired. The lever 73 is provided with a lug o^rfprojec tion 75 designed to engage the lug or pro- Jection 76 formed on shaft 77 for rotating shaft 77 and the valve 78 formed integral 73 and 82 is a lever 83, which lever is similar to lever 63 eXcept that it has only one projection 65 which is connected with a rod 67 or co-acts with a spring 70 and with a stop 68 in a similar manner to the structure shown in Fig. 5. The lever 83 is provided with a lug 84 adapted to strike against the abutments 85 and 86 formed by cutting away asec-tion of the head 87 of the bearing member 88. This limits the rotative movement of the valve member 7 8 so that aper- V-under pressure to said cylinders, and mantures 89 and 90 may register with their respective ports 91 and 92 according to the position of the valve member. When aperture 89 is registering with port 91, air under pressure is let into the cylinder 18, while port 92 allows air to escape when aperture 90 is in registry therewith. When air is admitted into cylinder 18 the same moves piston 93 toward the bearing end 94against the action of spring 95. It will be observed that piston rod 22 is constructed similar to piston rod 21, and is arranged with a shaft or rod 52 in a similar manner so that the clutch will be disconnected and the brakes may be applied without admitting pressure to the cylinderI 18, the same being accomplished by having the operator move treadle 20 by its foot. r

From the construction described, it will be noted that as long as the hands of the operatorhold the'members 31 and 32 (Figs. 12 and 13) in the position shown in Fig. 13, the air from tank 8 will not be admitted into either of the cylinders 17 and-18 as the valves and associated parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4. If the operator releases member 31 the spring 33 associated therewith, as shown in Fig. 13; Will raise rod 29, and will act through bell crank lever 40 so as to pull the cable 42. When cable 42 is pulled the same rotates lever 81, which lever will in turn rotate valve' 78 without molesting valve 54, thus admitting air under presmoved, and as cable 43 is secured to lever 73, said lever 73 will be rotated partially,'and

Will turn valve 78 sufficiently for opening y'port 91, and will also move bar 71 so that1 valve 54 will also be rotated until port 48 has been vopened so that air under pressure will enter both of the cylinders 17 and 18 and consequently-Will apply-the brakes', and will disconnect the clutch. In vview of this construction if an operator should release both of the members'31 and 32 the car would automatically stop.

vWhat I claim is- 2 1. In an automatic control for automobiles, a controlling pedal connected with the clutch for operating the same, a controlling pedal connected with the brake for operating the same, a piston connected with each of said pedals, a cylinder surrounding each of said pistons, means for supplying air ually controlled means for turning on the air to said pistons, said manually controlled means including springs for actuating the manually controlled means when said manually controlled means have been released.

2. In an automatic control for automobiles, a piston rod connected with the clutch lever, a piston rod connected with the brake lever, a piston for each of said piston rods,

a cylinder surrounding each of lsaid pistons, a springV arranged in each of said cylinders normally holding said pistons in a retracted position whereby said levers will beheld in such a position asto have the brakes dissupplying air to each of said pistons, a valve for each of said pistons for controlling said air supply tothe cylinders, a manually operated lever structure arranged adjacent the steering wheely of the automobile, spring meansifor moving said lever structure in one direction, and means for connecting said lever structure and said valves whereby whenever said lever structures are oper-ated by said springs said valves will be turned for admitting air und-er pressure into said cylinders. ,l

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with an automobile, of a pair of air brakev cylinders connected with the clutch and with the brake of the automobile, of a Valve for each of said cylinders, means for supplying air to said cylinders through said valves, a system of operating members connected, with each 'of Arsaid valves for rotating the valves in one direction, retractile means formoving the valves` in the opposite direction, a pivotally mounted lever connected with each of said systems of operating members, and a .spring for each of said levers for holding the same in a predetermined position, whereby said valves will'be open, said levers adapted to be normally held manually in such a position as to hold said valves closed.

4. In a device of the character described, a pair of arc-shaped members adapted to be arranged adjacent the steering wheel of an automobile, anarm rigidly secured to each of sai'darc-shaped members, means for pivotally mounting said arm, a rod pivotally connected with each of said arms and designed to be reciprocated thereby, a spring \connected and the clutch applied, means for 30.' said means so that said valve will be opened,

Vacting on said armsl for normally holding said larc-shaped members. away from said steering wheel, an air brake mechanism connectedwith the brake of the automobile, a similar mechanism connected with the clutch iof the automobile, and means connected to said air brake mechanisms, and to said reciprocating rods for transmitting motion from the reciprocating rods tothe air brake mechanisms, whereby whenever said spri'gs acting on said levers are permitted to actuate said levers said air'blrake mechanisms Will be actuated, said arc-shaped members being designed to be manually held in engagement with said steering wheel against the actionof said springs, whereby theair brake mechanisms arevheld out of, operatio 5. In a device of the character described, a pneumatically actuated' mechanism for disconnecting the clutch of an vautomobile, means for supplying air to said pneumatic means, a valve for regulating the amount of air supplyto said pneumatic means, a connecting rod or cable connected with said valve, movable means for actuating said rod or cable, a manually operated member for holding said vmovable means in a predetermined position, and a spring for moving said spring actuating said movable means when said manually controlled member has been released.

6. In a devicev of the character` described, a pair of cylinders, a piston and piston rod operatively associated with said cylinders, means vfor connecting one of said piston rods with the clutch of an automobile, means for connecting the other of said piston rods with the brake of an automobile, a spring arranged in each of said cylinders for normally holding the pistons in a certain position. whereby the clutch will be in an inoperative position and the brakes will be released, a valve 'for each of said cylinders, means for supplying air under pressure to vsaid valves, means for operating the valve of eachcylinder, a piston connectedwith the clutch whereby the clutch may be thrown out by letting air into the cylinder by moving the piston against one of said springs, and means for simultaneously operating both of said valves for simultaneously disconnecting said clutch and .agpplying the brakes of the automobile.

In testimony whereof ll have signed my name to this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH J. CURRY.

. Witnesses:

A. L. KITGHIN,

PHILIP D. ROLLHA'US. 

